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My last post was in February...its only April 16...not too shabby! Kidding - I really planned on writing again before now. Like during my lovely spring break, which was last week. However, my spring break was packed full of doing nothing, hanging out with my favorite people, sleeping in, and doing more nothing. Obviously no time to blog there.
Exciting things are happening! Take, for example, last Friday night. I stayed with Teenia (i.e. the best maid of honor to walk the planet) in good ole Greensboro and we did some wedding decoration shopping. I purchased two dozen vases (hey centerpieces!) and the cashier had to call a "Code 9" (read: this crazy lady is buying all of our vases and I'm going to be wrapping them for the next 23 minutes, we need another cashier up here stat) and I felt super accomplished. We walked around Garden Ridge for quite a while, playing with/questioning the random assortment of goods they have there. But really - if you've never been, you need to go check it out! Or if you need to buy a strangely large amount of glassware - they're your people.
In other news, my almost husband has a job! :) Jared was offered a part-time position with Campus Crusade for Christ (which he quickly and joyfully accepted), and we are both super excited for this opportunity. Shortly after we start our married life together, we'll be starting our life in ministry together. God has been so good in this whole "dating/engagement/ oh man we're getting married!" ordeal and we couldn't be more blessed. The deal is that Jared will be serving in a part-time capacity at a college in our region, which pretty much encompasses the Triad. He'll be working with college students in small-group settings, and we'll get the chance to hang out with them at large group meetings, and maybe even on some conferences and trips!
Speaking as a recent state college grad, I can personally say how important campus ministry was in my life. I was not part of Cru, but a member of InterVarsity, which is very much along the same lines. It was daunting to be leaving a tight youth group and the church that you've been attending for years to live in a place full of strange people (no really - strange people), different churches, and so many opportunities - some good, and some less than good. College is so full of choices and it's sad witnessing people make choice after choice that kill any relationship with God or a church that they may have had before moving away from home. Being a part of IV allowed me to get plugged into another tight group of believers that kept me accountable during my time in Boone. We served together, worshipped together, and grew together and it was an incredible experience. My time spent with a campus ministry makes me all the more excited for the opportunity that Jared and I (by association) have!
When you think about Cru, think about missionaries. Employees of Cru are exactly that, missionaries! They reach out to a group of people that can easily be forgotten and help them through a time of life that can be very turbulent. Many missionaries raise financial support, and the people that serve with Cru are no different. Jared is starting even now with his fundraising efforts. We brainstormed a list of people (thank you, wedding guest list, for your assistance!) that we thought might prayerfully consider supporting Jared in his time of ministry with Cru. He has a monthly dollar amount to raise, and will ideally have that money before starting at a campus in August. I hope and pray that some of you reading this will share in our excitement and joy and consider supporting Jared on this journey - it will no doubt be an incredible ministry and I couldn't be more thankful for it. Please feel free to contact Jared or me to ask questions about Cru, or to request information on how to offer your own financial support to help him get a strong start! I'm grateful for the people that we know and for how missions-minded so many of you are!
